News

Over the past year and a half a new business center in Willmar, Midtown Plaza, has come into reality. The owners, Zack Mahboub and Sahra Gure, previously had acquired the former Erickson Building in downtown Willmar as a location for their business, West Central Interpreting. They decided that it would make a great location for a diverse business center, catering to the communities of new immigrant businesses.
Funding for renovating the first floor of the building came together in the Spring

On March 29, 2018, the EDC held its annual planning retreat at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center near Spicer. The 19 attendees included board members, committee chairs, EDC staff, and Bruce Miles, the facilitator from Big River Group. Among the goals of this year’s planning session was it review successes and issues, identify near-term and long-term priorities, and benchmark new priorities. Participants revised the organization’s Vision Statement to the following: To provide

Eryn Hannig has re-opened Urban Escape with expanded room and added product. The facility which she purchased after Marketing Concepts relocated, features 3,000 square feet of sales space on the main floor, a significant increase from the 900 square foot space she had at her former location. She is still just off of the shores of beautiful Green Lake and next to the new Hampton Inn which will provide some new walking traffic to the store.
The upscale boutique features clothing, jewelry, shoes,

Former resident Dr. Ashley Rath has returned to the Spicer area and moved her chiropractic business with her. With a specialty in prenatal and pediatric care, the name Family Roots Chiropractic is fitting.
Dr. Ashley has a passion to help children and families experience life in a healthier state.
She says, “health to me is about function. How well you are functioning is an indication of how healthy you are. In our office, we use technology to measure the function of your nervous system. The

Catering and bread pudding are highlights of the new offerings at Diane Harm’s shop, Coffee & More on Spicer’s south side. Diane’s baked goods and panini sandwiches are the greatest in-store hits. People are ordering the homemade bread pudding in the restaurant to eat on-site and by the cake pan to take home for their special occasions. Catering is the “cream of the crop,” says Diane, taking her across the region to deliver in Spicer and to businesses and events throughout the county.

WILLMAR — Looks like the Highway 23 four-lane project between New London and Interstate 94 may get funded after all.
As part of the bonding bill that was finalized this weekend, the Legislature added $400 million to the state’s Corridors of Commerce program and put the state Highway 23 project on this list to be completed, said Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City.
Highway 23 was one of three highway projects selected to receive the new money, along with highways 14 and 252.
“Highway

The fishing agreement of Green Lake—for funding support for the Highway 23 gap projects—lasted apparently about as long as it took for the Minnesota political leaders to get out of Kandiyohi County Saturday.
Willmar Lakes Area Governor’s Fishing Opener Host Kelly Morrell won an informal pledge Saturday from Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, for funding for completing the 7-mile and 9-miles two-lane gaps on state Highway

SPICER—A historic Spicer community landmark that operates as a restaurant and bed and breakfast on the southeast shore of Green Lake is closing and is for sale.
The change could bring an end to the 123-year ownership of the Spicer Castle by the family of the man who built the structure and helped found the town that bears his name.
“This is the last season the Spicer Castle will be open,” said Mary Latham, a fourth-generation member of the John M. Spicer family who has owned the classic

SPICER — Governor Mark Dayton led his boatmates by catching three of the eight largemouth bass they landed and released on the fishing opener on Green Lake in Spicer on Saturday morning, but there was not a walleye to be had.
Their guide never wetted a line, but came back with the biggest prize, if it can be counted as a keeper when the legislature goes back to work Monday.
Willmar Lakes Area Host Kelly Morrell won an informal pledge of support from the governor and his boatmates to fund the

NEW LONDON—Since the first breaking ground on the District 345 building projects August 22, 2016, the NL-S Performing Arts Center officially received its Certificate of Occupancy last Friday having completed all facets of construction save for minor punch list items.
Following student-led tours of the facility during Monday evening’s “Sneak Peek” event, the PAC saw use in its first official capacity during Wednesday evening’s Honors and Awards Program.
Subsequent upcoming events scheduled